The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is still in discussion with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) on the alcohol sales ban. There is no conclusion on the matter, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.
Earlier reports said that the ban will be extended by one month with a gap of two days for people to stock up between bans, according to a recommendation made by CCSA’s subcommittee.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said that they are waiting for guidelines to either lift or extend the ban from the CCSA or the MOI.
“If it is not [Thursday], it will be [Friday], but it will be within this week for sure,” CCSA’s spokesperson Thaweesin Visanuyothin said.
The ban was supposed to last until April 30.
The MOI sent a letter to provincial and local administrations on Wednesday morning stating the State of Emergency (SOE)’s orders will continue to be in effect until May 31.
Eight types of establishments
The BMA said on Wednesday that it will allow eight types of establishments to reopen under a new policy.
The SOE has been extended until the end of May but the government said they will allow some businesses with low to mid-level risk to reopen in phases with a pause of 14 days between each phase.
What kind of businesses and when they will be allowed to reopen remains undecided, said Thaweesin on Wednesday.
“The [easing up] measures will definitely come out before May 1,” he said. “The updates on these measures must come from the CCSA so we urge for your patience.”
BMA said that these establishments must observe strict hygiene and social distancing guidelines, such as temperature checkpoints, mandatory masks, hand cleaning stations and a social distancing of 1.5-2 meters.
The businesses will be re-shut if they fail to comply.
The eight types of establishments include:
- Restaurants with seats 1.5 meter apart and no serving of alcohol. The opening and shut time will be within the 04:00am-10:00pm curfew
- Fresh and flea markets
- Fitness venues. Group sports are still prohibited. For example, badminton and tennis courts are allowed to reopen but football fields and basketball courts will remain closed
- Public parks but no congregation of people
- Hairdressers and barbers for cutting and cleaning only. Customers will not be able to wait inside the venue and staff must wear a face shield
- Pet grooming places and veterinarian clinics with a limited number of customers and pets at a time
- Hospitals, clinics and other medical places
- Golf parks and driving ranges
